another rear end rebuild

[1990LTD]

oh, and what gear oil should i be dumping in there?

[1990LTD]

sorry for all of the retarded questions but i know nothing about what's inside a rear axle. but....how many pinion/diff/axle bearings (inner/outer/etc) are needed?

[86VickyLX]

Backing plates and parking brake cables. The entire parking brake cable if you can manage it. I think the 1990+ will have the same length cable, but I'm not sure. If it is, you don't have to mod shit for the parking brake cables.

The axle length has nothing to do with the brakes. Since the axle housings are proportional to the length of axle shafts. Same space between them regardless of actual length differences.

Use Hypoid Gear oil 80w90 is fine. With a tracloc you need a friction material additive.

EACH BEARING HAS A MATCHING BEARING RACE!!! DON'T MIX THEM UP!
there are 2 carrier bearings (one on each side)
there are 2 pinion bearings (one on each end)
there are 2 axle bearings (one on each side)

[1990LTD]

thank you x10000

[1990LTD]

another important one,

in the junkyard car when salvaging backing plates and E brake junk - how do the axles come loose? i know i need to crack open the pumpkin but it's a land of magic and wonder inside there for me at this point.

if they don't care whether or not i put it back together i'll pull the diff cover and make notes and remove things until the axles are free.

[1990LTD]

none of these actually list the contents but one of em has a picture. rockauto listings for differential bearing and seal kits.




is that the diff and pinion bearings? if so i don't know what else i'm looking at


(i'm having someone else do the work; don't worry)

[Lincolnmania]

yea that covers the center section
check ebay for cheaper kits

[Lincolnmania]

yea that covers the center section
check ebay for cheaper kits

[P72Ford]

The two bearings in the top left of that pictures are the carrier bearings, and their corresponding races are next to them. Top right shows the pinion bearings (the rear one is above the front one). Pinion seal, pinion nut, crush sleeve, gear paint, and rtv.

Just need oil, outer wheel bearings and seals. Maybe axles if yours are trashed.

[86VickyLX]

another important one,

in the junkyard car when salvaging backing plates and E brake junk - how do the axles come loose? i know i need to crack open the pumpkin but it's a land of magic and wonder inside there for me at this point.

if they don't care whether or not i put it back together i'll pull the diff cover and make notes and remove things until the axles are free.

This applies to your car too. Remove brakes so the axles are exposed. Remove all of the bolts on the cover of the rear except for a few at the top. Pry on the bottom to drain the fluid out. If you're working somewhere you care about catch it with a container or something. With an 8mm wrench, remove the bolt in the middle of the rear. It holds the shiny pin in the middle. Remove the pin. You may have to rotate the rear to do this. When the pin is out, DON'T ROTATE THE REAR!!!!!!!!!! Unless you want the center gears and shit to come apart on you.

As I was saying, when the pin is out, push in on the axle, the axle will slide in some, and the c-clip will be exposed (inside the rear). With your fingers, or a screw driver, or pliers, remove the c-clip. And pull the axle out. Then you can pull the backing plates.

To put the axles back together, install backing plates, insert axles, taking care not to damage your new seals (you have to kinda balance the axle so it goes in straight, so it goes right into the carrier). When the axle goes all the way in, attach the c-clip and pull the axle back out. Same applies to the other side. Reinstall the center pin, and put red locktite on the bolt.
Put the cover back on. Use Ultimate Gray or whatever that RTV is called. If you got a gasket, put that on too! Fill it with as much gear fluid as you can without it seaping out (THE REAR SHOULD BE AS IT WOULD BE ON THE GROUND, ON A LEVEL SURFACE TO PUT THE PROPER AMOUNT IN [if you can help it!]). Reinstall your brakes.

[1990LTD]

The two bearings in the top left of that pictures are the carrier bearings, and their corresponding races are next to them. Top right shows the pinion bearings (the rear one is above the front one). Pinion seal, pinion nut, crush sleeve, gear paint, and rtv.

Just need oil, outer wheel bearings and seals. Maybe axles if yours are trashed.

I'm presently operating with the hope that I don't have to buy new axles Probably will, I'll find out when it comes apart.

[86VickyLX]

Is the rear making noise?

[1990LTD]

nope. there's a bit of whine from underneath when i run through first gear but it's more in the area of the trans tunnel than the rear axle.

the drivers side axle seal is bad but the leak is really slow, it felt like the gear oil was barely down at all.


it'll be 300 bucks for axles shipped to me from rockauto.. if i can avoid the expense, i will, but if i can't i can't.

.i'm gonna price em (axles) at the parts store tomorrow when i go get prices on brake parts. if memory serves 92-97 brakes are the same, correct? except for the piston material with the police calipers, that is.

[86VickyLX]

That whine is the AOD. That is normal. If you don't have a howling or anything then your rear isn't as bad as you think.

Brakes are the same. I think they all use Phenolic pistons, but I'm not sure.

[1990LTD]

Would the howl you speak of increase with road speed? Wanna know what I should be looking for just in case